In Loyal Company★★★★Alexandra Palace Theatre

Alexandra Palace Theatre

Reviewed – 5th June 2019

★★★★

“Bryan puts an impressive amount of energy into the performance … His physicality is excellent and certainly helps the audience to engage with the story”

The day before the 75th anniversary of D-Day, David William Bryan presents his one man show, In Loyal Company, at Alexandra Palace Theatre. Based on his great uncle Arthur’s experiences in World War II, Bryan’s show has already received critical acclaim from a 2018 run as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and is now touring the U.K.

The stage is virtually bare, aside from a trunk that it’s later revealed contains costume elements, including various army uniforms, used throughout the show. You’d be forgiven for wondering if such a basic performance space would mean a bland show, but this most definitely isn’t the case. It’s immediately clear that David William Bryan is a talented performer. The character he has created from his great uncle’s true story is likeable from the start, which makes us all the more invested in his journey and how it’ll turn out. From an awkward night at a dance to his capture by the Japanese army, a lot of detail about the experiences of one man during World War II is packed into just over an hour.

Bryan puts an impressive amount of energy into the performance. He barely stops for the entire duration of the show, which makes sense as five years’ worth of experiences have been condensed into a relatively short space of time. His physicality is excellent and certainly helps the audience to engage with the story. A particularly memorable moment comes when the young soldier jumps from a ship into the sea to escape a missile attack. The physical elements, combined with lighting and sound, make this section believable and powerful.

One of the most wonderful things about theatre is the opportunity for performers to bring people’s real experiences to life. In Loyal Company does this in a way that is emotive and respectful, as well as humorous at times. It may be the story of just one individual, but this show shines a light on the sacrifices made by so many during one of the most trying times in history. Long may similar stories be presented in our theatres.